Staff and lever lock.



No. 743,325, PATENTED Nov. s, 1903. T. H. PATBNALL.

STAFF AND LEVER LOCK.

APPLIOATIONPILED JAN. 3, 1003. v

No MODEL. 2 snznTs-snnm 1.

wrNEssEs fwf No. '743.325y PATENTED NOV. 3, 1903. T. H. PATENALL.

STAFF AND LEVER LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. a. 1903.

No MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

L. M, LH

UNITED STATES 'Patented November 1903s PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS H. PATENALL, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TC THE UNIONSWITCH AND SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SWISSVALE, PENN- SYLVANIA, A CORPORATIONOF PENNSYLVANIA.

STAFF AND LEVER LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 743,325, datedNovember 3, 1903.

Application iiled January 3,1903. Serial No. 137.642. (No model.)

'l) all whom 25 may concern.- l

Be it known that I, THoMAs I-I. PATENALL, of Wilkinsburg, in the countyof Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Staif and Le ver Locks, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings,in which- Figure 1 is a front view representing the internalmechanism in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line IIII of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on a large scale,representing the staif socket and support, a staff being represented inposition to unlock the lever-lock. Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views of thestaff-socket. Figs. 6 and 7 are side and end views of the operating-cam,respectively; and Figs. 8 and 9 are front and side views of thelever-lock.

My invention relates to staff and lever locking devices, and has for itsobject, in connection with a stai system, the control of .the leverswhich are used to operate signals and switches and also the locking ofthe signal i-n its normal or danger position.

My invention consists in providing mechanism adapt-ed to lock the signalor switch levers, which mechanism is operated by a staff which is usedin the staff instrument forming a part of a system wherein the movementof trains is controlled by staff instruments which are electricallyconnected and operate in conjunction with each other, the instrumentsbeing locked and unlocked by staifs which can only be withdrawn andinserted under proper conditions for the safe operating of the trains,and this is described in my copending applications, Serial No. 101,716,filed April 7, 1902, and Serial No. 124,022, filed September 19, 1902.

My invention further :consists in features of construction andcombination of parts more fully hereinafter described,'and pointed outin the claims. p l

In the drawings, 2 represents a frame or casing which incloses theoperating parts of the device. This casing is secured to a suitable baseor support 3. A' locking-segment 4 is pivotally mounted in bearings 5 5,se-

cured to the base 3. The segment 4 Ais pro- 5o vided with ears 6 6,adapted to receive a pin 7, by which the signal-lever-operaiing rod S issecured to the segment.

The upper portion of the segment 4 engages the locking rod or bar 9,anclits upper end 10 is guided by rollers 10 in such manner that the baris capable of endwise movements. The locking-bar 9 also carries pins 11,which are insulated from the bar by a suitable bushing 12, and when inthe normal 6o ,locked position the opposite ends of the pin 1l makecontact with contact-springs 13 and 14. These springs constitute theterminals of the circuit which connects one staff instrument with adistant staifinstrument or instruments, and when the parts are in theposition represented in the drawings the circuit is complete through pin11 and contacts 13 and 14. The upper end of the locking rod or bar 10 iswhen the device is constructed 7c as shown in the drawings madeseparatefrom the lower end and is connected thereto by a loose or slottedconnection,.a pin 16 being passed through the rod 10 and extendedthrough the slots 17 in the locking-bar 9 in 75 o rder to join the parts9 10', so as to constitute one member of the locking mechanism, butpermitting the segment 4 to be moved independently of the rods 9 10. Therod 10 is also provided with a collar or pin 1S, between So which andthe upper Vend of the locking-bar 9 is placed a coil-spring 19, arrangedto hold the locking-bar 9 so that the pin 16 normally rests in theupper. end of the slot.

In the upper portion of the frame or casing 2 is mounted a staff-socket20, the front end of which is carried in an escutcheon 21, provided witha locking-tongue 22, which engages alongitudinal groove 36 in the staff35 in inserting the staff within the socket, and 9o when the staff is inits socket and is turned `to operate the locking mechanism the tongue 22will engage a transverse groove37, as

hereinafter described. The rear end of the socket is provided with aplug 23, having a rib 24 on, its inner face and on its outer end abearing portion 25, which is arranged to iit a bracket 26, secured tothe casing 2. The

socket 2O is also provided with arms 27, in

Which is mounted a roller 28, adapted to engage a rocking cam 29,mounted upon a pin 30, secured to the casing 2. The cam 29 is providedwith a lug or ear 31, to which is secured one end of a link 32. Itslower end is secured to the upper end of the locking-rod 10. The socket2O is also provided with depressions 20, which are engaged by aspringpressed pin 33, by which the socket is held in the position inwhich it is placed after being rotated. The spring-pressed pin 33, whichengages depressions 20', is readily disengaged when the staff-socket isturned by the operator rotating the staff, as the spring surrounding thepin yields as the end of the pin is forced out of the depression.

A stop 34 is secured to the socket 20, and a coacting stop 34 is placedon the bracket 26, so as to limit its rotation.

The staff 35 is cylindrical and is provided with a longitudinal groove36 and a transverse locking-groove 37, into which the groove 36 leads.The groove 37 when the sta 35 is in the socket, as shown in Fig. 3, isin registry with the tongue 22, and when the staff is turned to unlockthe staif and lever lock the groove 37 prevents the withdrawal of thestaff until the longitudinal groove 36 is brought.

in line with the tongue 22, as shown in Fig. 3. The inner end of thestaff is provided with a slot 38, cut so as to register with theposition of the rib 24 on the plug 23 with respect to the tongue 22 onthe escutcheon 21. The relation of the rib 24 on the plug 23, secured inthe end of the socket 20, bears to the tongue 22 on the escutcheon 2ldetermines Whether the staff will operate the locking devices or not,for the notch or slot 38 is cut at an angle to the groove 36 in the samerelation as the rib 24 bears to the tongue 22. Any variation between thegrooves on the staff and the cory responding projection on theescutcheon and the socket-plug renders any staffs but the one designedto be used inoperative. By varying the relation of the rib 24 to thetongue 22 a large variety of combinations may be effected,

the staffs being made to suit this relationship. v

The operationv to unlock the lever which controls the signal is asfollows: The staff instruments at staff-stations and their signallever-locks being in the normal conditionthat is, the signal beingdisplayed at danger -the electrical circuit between the stations is inthe proper condition for an operator at a staff-station to ask theoperator at a distant station to unlock his instrument, so as to permithim to withdraw a staff and permit a train to proceed to the nextstaff-station. Permission being given and the staff vreleased a stad iswithdrawn; but before it is given to the engineer it is placed in thesocket 20, which operates lever-lock 9, and as it is turned so as torotate the socket the roller 28 actuates the cam 29 and through the link32 lifts the bar 10' and the locking-rod 9 free of the lever-segment 4,at the same time breaking the electric circuit at contacts 13 and 14 asthe pin 11 is lifted out of contact therewith. This prevents furthercommunication between the operators until the normal position of thelever-lock is restored. The locking rod and bar 9 is now in raisedposition. The segment may be turned and the signal or switch controlledby the lock may be operated. The staff 35 is then turned back. Thespring on the locking-rod 10 and the slot in lbar 9 afford a yieldingconnection which makes this possible. As the switch or signal isreversed this movement causes the lockingsegment 4 to turn upon itspivot-pin 5, and as soon as its notched locking portion is reached thespring'19 expands and forces the locking-bar 9 automatically into lockedengagement with segment 4. The staff is withdrawn from the lever-lockinginstrument and is delivered to the engine-man, and as soon as the trainhas passed the signal or switch must be reversed and again locked,because, as just described, the circuit is broken between thestaff-stations, and the operators cannot communicate with each otheruntil the pin 11 makes contact with the springs 13 and 14and restoresthe electric circuits, and this can take place only when the lock is inits normal position and the signal is displayed at danger.

The advantages of my invention will be appreciated by those familiarwith the art, and this device affords a simple and eifective means ofpreventing signals being left in the wrong position.

Many variations may be made by the skilled mechanic and electricianwithout departing from my invention.

What l claim is- 1. A lock for railway signals and switches, comprisingan operating rod or connection, a locking member secured thereto, asecond locking member arranged to engage directly with the other member,rotary staff-actuated mechanism connected to said second locking member,arranged to move the same out of locked engagement with the first, so asto permit movement of the operating rod or connection; substantially asdescribed.

2. A sta' and lever lock for railway signals and switches, comprising anoperating rod or connection, a lockingmember secured thereto, a secondendwise-movable locking member arranged to engage with the other memberand retain the other member in locked position, a staff or key, androtary cam mechanism adapted to be engaged by said staff or key, andconnected to said second member, so as to move the same out of and intoengagement with the other locking-piece, thereby releasing or lockingthe operating-rod; substantially as described.

3. A staff and lever lock for railway signals and switches, comprisingan operating rod or connection, a pivoted locking member securedthereto, a second locking member arranged to engage with said pivotedmember and retain the member in locked position, a staff or key,

IOS!

IIO

and rotating mechanism adaptedto be actuated by said staff or key andconnected to said second member, so as to move the same out of and intoengagement with the other locking-piece, thereby releasing or lookingthe operating-rod; substantially as described.

4. A staif and lever lock, comprising an operating-rod, a locking membersecured thereto, a second member, arranged to engage therewith, a staff,a sta-socket for the staff,4

and connections between said socket and said second locking member,whereby it is operated when the staff is used to move the socket;substantially as described.

5. A staff and lever lock, comprising an operating-rod, a pivotedlocking member, a second locking member arranged to engage therewith, astaff or key, a socket therefor, and a yielding actuating` connectionbetween4 said socket and said second locking member, so as to permitmovement of the yielding connection without affecting the pivoted memberwhen the staif-socket is moved by the rotation of the sta; substantiallyas described.

6. A staif and lever lock, comprising an operating-rod, a lockingmember, a second locking member arranged to engage therewith, a staff orkey, a socket therefor, and a yielding actuating connection between saidsocket and said second locking member comprising a divided rod or bar4united by a loose connection, so as to permit movement of the yieldingconnection without affecting the other member when the socket is turnedby the staff or key; substantially as described. i

7. A staff and lever lock, comprising an operating-rod, a lockingmember, a second locking member arranged to engage therewith, a staff orkey, a rotatory socket therefor, and a yielding actuating connectionbetween said socket and said second locking member, so as to permitmovement of the yielding connection without affecting the `other member;substantially as described.

8. Astaiic and lever lock, comprising an operating-rod, a locking membersecured thereto, a second member, arranged to engage` therewith, astaif, a socket for the staff and a detent for said socket, arranged toretain the socket and the locking mechanism in the position it is placedby the operator, and a connection between said socket and said secondlookin g member, whereby it is operated; substantially as described.

9. A staff and lever lock, comprising an operating-rod, a locking membersecured thereto, a second member, arranged to engage therewith, a staff,a socket for the staff, and stops to limit the movement of said socket,and a detent for said socket, arranged to retain the socket and thelocking mechanism in the position it is placed by the operator, and aconnection between said socket and said second locking member, wherebyit is operated; substantially as described. l 10. A staff and lever lockfor railway signals and switches, comprising an operating rod orconnection, a locking member secured thereto, a second locking memberarranged to engage with the other member, and retain the other member inlocked position, a staff or key, and mechanism adapted to be engaged bysaid stad or key, connected to said second member, so as to move thesame out of and into engagement with the other locking-piece, acontact-piece carried by the second member, fixed contacts formingterminals for an electric circuit, said contact-piece closing thecircuit through said fixed contacts when the parts are in lockedposition, and breaking said contacts when the parts are in the unlockedposition; substantially as described.

l1. A staff and lever lock,comprising an opg erating-rod, a lockingmember secured thereto, a second member arranged to engage therewith, acontact-piece carried thereby, fixed contacts forming terminals for anelectric circuit, said contact-piece closing the circuit through saidfiXed contacts when the parts are in locked position, and breaking saidcontacts when the parts are in the unlocked position, a st a, a socketfor the staff, and connections between said socket and said secondlocking member, whereby the yielding p connection being given an endwisemovement to effect the opening and closing of the circuit, and theengagement and disengagement with the second locking member;substantially as described.

l2. A staff and lever lock, comprising an operating-rod, a lockingmember secured thereto, a second member arranged to engage therewith, acontact-piece carried thereby, fixed contacts forming terminals for anelectric circuit, said contact-piece closing the circuit through saidfiXed contacts when the parts are in locked position, and breaking saidcontacts when the parts are in the unlocked position, a staif, arotatablesocket for the staff, a loose connection between the saidsocket and said second locking member whereby endwise movement is giventhereto IOC when the ,socket is rotated; substantially as described.

. In testimony whereofl have hereunto set

